Take responsibility for what you believe

Does anyone else have to rely on GPS or mapping services like MapQuest or Google Maps to get around? I’m not ashamed to admit that I do. I’m one of those people.

Now, I don’t need them in Wichita, generally. If I know the area, I can pretty much figure out how to get there, but I’m familiar with Wichita streets. But in another city? Like Chicago, where I’m at right now? I’m at the mercy of whatever mapping program is most convenient.

And that means I have to trust whatever information it gives me because I don’t know any better. For all I know, the map I’m reading to could be completely off base. It might be entirely incorrect. And I might be heading in a direction that will cause me a lot of trouble.

Today’s verses are Galatians 1:6-7.

Jellyfish at the Omaha Zoo, Omaha, NE

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ.You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

I don’t think I’ve ever used the same Bible verse twice in a row on AlwaysPeachy. But every now and then, more than one concept in a verse strikes me when I read it.

I guess what really stood out to me here was that even in the days of the early Church, there were still people who were trying to dilute the Truth of God’s Word. You’re always going to find those people in any sort of religious institution. The naysayers. The nitpickers. The backstabbers and bickerers.

It’s not limited by denomination, but they do seem to come out of the woodwork in churches that are really making a difference for Christ.

What amazes me is that their fake gospel isn’t always easier than what Jesus originally brought. There are some who come into a church to lead it astray who bring the whole concept of the prosperity gospel. Those are the folks who say if you believe hard enough and do everything God says, He’ll give you everything you as for. And there’s no biblical basis for that.

But then there are the folks who come in and say you have to dress and act a certain way in order for God to accept you. You have to keep traditions and live by rituals and all that in order to be loved. And there’s no basis for that in the Bible either.

You just have to make sure you always check your sources. If there’s someone in the church you respect and love and they have acted like a mentor to you, that’s wonderful. And you should seek out those relationships. But don’t for a moment think they are always right. Don’t for an instant believe your pastor is always right.

You are responsible for your own faith, and if your faith is misplaced, it’s nobody’s fault but yours.

Where do you check? Well, I can tell you issues of faith are easier to verify than a mapping program. For MapQuest and Google Maps, generally you just have to get there to figure out that the program is wrong. For faith, you have a Bible. You have access to the Scriptures.

Read them. Make it a habit. Do Google searches for keywords. And ask the person who’s telling you what they believe where they learned it.

I’m not saying to suspect everyone of heresy. By no means. But we all need do start taking responsibility for what we believe. If we can do that, not only will our faith be sure, but it’ll be stronger and it’ll be our own.

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